Oh, great ideas! I have some fairlylarge paintings I'm not using, but they are all landscape orientated, not portrait. I have a very large mirror - blfenton, I'm usually the first one to say "mirror is a canvas, whatever it reflects is the art on it" -- so what would I be reflecting? The "formal dining room" (turned home office) and DH pounding away on his keyboard. :) I like the idea of a trunk. I have one that is just sitting somewhere, but it's not large enough (think more the size that you'd keep to the side of a sofa). I will have to keep my eyes open. Do I use faux greenery - yes. A lot. Do I like to admit it? No. Do I really think anyone really believes I keep that pothos perfectly green in a bathroom with no natural light? No. :) Lazy Susans are very 80s to me...but so are tv trays and I certainly have a stash of them! Functionality knows no decade boundaries. :) I saw some interesting candleholders at TJ Maxx today in colors that would go with my overall decor very well. Not exactly the right style, but probably about as close as I will get. I'm finicky. :(

Great art and I like the wall color and the chairs. It would be helpful to see other aspects of the room, for instance where that octagonal symbol is. It seems to me the entry *should* be there, otherwise why was that symbol put there. Some questions for you - how do you plan to use this living room? How much seating do you need? How much do you love the Barcelona chairs? How much do you love your dining room chairs? In other words what must stay and what could go? If you like everything you have and don't need a lot of seating in this room I suggest making it a library and putting a wall of built-in shelving on the wall across from the window. There's already a corner there so you could make the shelves that depth so that wall is then straight. Place the chairs in front of the shelves facing each other with a small round table between them. There will then be enough space to walk in front of the window to access the rest of the house. Do white wood slat blinds on the window for privacy and light control. As for rugs you *could* do an area rug under both chairs and/or a long 30-36" runner from the front door, across in front of the window to the dining room to show it is a corridor. Use masking tape on the floor to see how rugs would fit. If you do a runner then a 6'x9' area rug should fit in the seating area. Rugs may not be necessary so leave that until the rest of the room is done. If you do need more seating perhaps several matching small rectangular ottomans would work. They could be arranged under the window in a row when not in use. Not the most comfortable seating for day to day 'lounging' but acceptable for a party or casual use. Alternatively your dining chairs could be brought in as extra seating. If you need more comfortable seating for general day-to-day use then a loveseat the length of the 2 Barcelona chairs would work. If the B. chairs are pushed together with the loveseat opposite there will still be space for the 'corridor' next to the window. I would not be concerned with the window being the 'focal point' of the room. In fact focal points are very much over-rated and there can be more than one. Right now your art work certainly draws the eye and might be considered a focal point. If you do the wall of bookshelves, that could be a focal point. Filled with books, a few decorative items, small art work and it will be a major feature of the room.

So, my living room has this beautiful bay window but the front door opens right into the living room and at the other end it opens to the dining room which leaves me with two parallel walls. Help ! I feel like the way I have It set up now emphasizes how long and narrow it is. Btw, the tv has to be the center because that’s what i use the living room for. My bedroom sucks too. The layout is so basic. Any suggestions are much appreciated. Thanks in advance!

It’s asking a lot to make this a tv room, playroom and music room. So Maybe add a colorful area rug on top of the carpet and some fun, colorful kid chairs for now. Once the dollhouse is outgrown, a sofa with flanking chairs on the big wall and move the piano where the tv is now. I can just see the kids dancing to music played on the piano! Takes me back....